Table.



G. STEINGRUBER.

TABLE.

APPLICATION FILED AFR. 26, 1913.

Patented Aug. 10, 1915.

2 SHEETS-SHEET I.

1111 w @www G. STEINGRUBER.

TABLE. APPLICATION FILED APR.26| 1913.

1,149,964. Patented Aug. 10, 191.5.

2 SHEETS-SHEET 2.

@1r/55T ,f T' y W7@ HEB STATES PATENT orrion Geenen sfinrnenniann, orHAzLni-i'nnsfr, ivrvisslssirri, AssiGNoR-r'o MINNIE i5.-

STEINGRUBER, 0F HAZLEHURST, MISSISSIPPI.

TABLE;

To all culi-0m t may concern y Be it known that I, GEORGE STEINGRUBER, acitizen of the United States, residing at Hazlehurst, in the county ofHailehurst and State Lof Mississippi, have invented certain 'new anduseful Improvements in Tables, of

main support.

In my application Serial Number 734,558, above mentioned is disclosed apeculiar formV lof what I term an extension ,and equalizing unit, thatvis to say, the extension instrumentalities for the table, and theequalizing instrumentalities are intimately associated not only byreason of proximity but/owing to the interconnection of the parts of theeX- tension means and said equalizing means, so intimate in suchassociation in fact that I manufacture the extension and equalizingmeans alone and supply the saine to the manufacturers of tables. n

An essential feature of the tpresent iin- .pi'ovements, therefore, hasbeen to so modify, construct, and shape the elements of the equalizingand extension unit mentioned that the parts are even more intimatelycoi'-v related than in my previous construction. This relation willbelmore fully understood when I say that inthe construction ofanextension and equalizing unit hereinafter described fully, all of theparts of the eXtension means and equalizing meansare so coinf bined that.they form practically a single mechanism or a single device, lwhichwith its partsassembled, is an article of Amanufacture of itselfandrequires only to be fastened in place as a whole on a table of theextension type, there being no necessity of a connecting together of anyof the parts of the device, a feature which has been found of extremeimportance in the practical use of my invention by table manufacturers;

It iS further my design to prv'ide a Spef Y Specification of LettersIatent. llatentgivAg-o s120, 1915. Appiicatit'n inea April ze, 191e.sei-"iai N. '7,`2.

cifal form of bracket for fth'e 'runner supports that be readily stampedfrom a sheet of metal so bent aste form a supporting member for theriini'ier supports, brace forv the 'rim 'of the table aswellasconnecting theseV parts to the main table structure. Y carrying loutthe invention it is also contemplated to forin slots oilopeningstin theri'm fof `rnytablewhereby to guide 'the runners as the top ksections 'ofthet'able are moved into their outiif'ard or eXtend'ed positi'ons, allvof the foregoing tending to im-` prove in the details of construction ofi'ny particular form of table lwl'iereby the manufacturing of the sameis greatly facilitated.

A,With th'eabovevand other objects in view K this invention Lc'on'sistsin the construction, combinatien, and arrangement of parts allas.hereinaftei1 more fully described, claimed, and illiist'ia'ted in thevaccompanying -drawings, wherein: p

Figure 1 isa top -plan iii'eiv of a table constructed in accordance withmyl invention `with the topof said table omitted and parts broken awayto 'show more Lclearly the details of Construction. Fig. 2 is a verticalsectional View ,taken about on the line 242 of. 1; Fig. 3 is yafragmentary sectional view on the line lBf-lof Fig. Q. Fig. 4 isasimilar yiew on the line 4 4 of Fig'. 2. Fig. 5 is aA fragmentarysectional vrvien7 of one of the foldable leaves employed in conjunctionwith my table, and showing more particularly the leafoperating .orpositioning member.` Fig, yG is a plan yiew ofl a metallic` blank fromwhich'the runner supporting Abrackets are formed. Fig. k7 isa top planvie`\\7 of said bracket after bendingV yinto proper shape. Fig. 8 isayfragrnentary bottom plan of the table loeking means. Fig; 9 is afragmentary top plan of the locking means showing in dotted linestheinove-v ment 'of the 'cooperating parts, andFig. l0 is f afragmentary, vertical sectionalview of the locking means showing thetable structure in section., Fig. llisa fragmentary sec` tional view, ofa slightly modified form of runnery siipp'oit. ,f

Throughout the following 4 detail description and ontlie severalfigures'o'f the draw-V ings, 'similar parts are referredk to by likevreference characters.k s n s v In describingwthe invention andreferring to the drawings, the numeral l designates io5 s i bracketv7and 7.

a suitable base or pedestal such as shown and described in my formerapplications, the customary cross-pieces 2 being secured upon the top ofthe same by meansof lag screws or similar fastening members 3. To

the extremities of these cross-pieces 2 is se-` of the table top, theserunner supports beingv fastened at each end on a special form of Each ofthe brackets is stamped from a piece of sheet metal vas shown mostplainly in Fig. 6 of the drawings with the necessary'screw-holes 8 andan angular slot 9, the metal then being bent at right angles to form thebasey portion 7a, which is secured on top of the cross-piece 2 `at eachend, and the uprighty portion '7" which is similarly fastened to the rim4, while from this upright portion, the runner ksupport connectingmember 7c is inwardly bent at an angle.` In the member 79, is vprovidedan elongated opening 10' through which a bolt or rivet passesinconnecting the runner support 6 to said member 7c. The brackets 7 and7 are identical in construction with the exception of the angularity ofthe member 7, which in one case is bentat an obtuse' angle and in theother` at an acute angle, the necessity for which arises from the factthat the brackets are secured to opposite ends of the table where thecurvature of the rim is in reverse directions, as will be apparent byreference to Fig. 1 -of the drawings. Y

To each of the top sections 5 and adjacent each runner support issecured in any Y vsuitable manner a runner 11, the respective pairs ofrunners for said top sections being arranged at opposite sides of therunner supports as shown in Fig. 1, and each lof these runners iscomposed of a pair of angle iron members 11 andll, one beneath theother, secured together in spaced relation by means of the verticalplates 12 located at the ends in such a manner as to provide alongitudinal `slot 18 extending throughout the length ofthe runner. Intovthe slot 13 f of each runner project rollerl bearings 14,

mountednpon the shoulderedpinsl, ex-

tending laterally from 4the opposite sides of the runner supports l6 aswill be understood by reference to Fig. 3, washersl being arrangedadjacent vthe rollers at eachside of the runner to prevent displacementfrom be- I tween theln'iembers 11 and 11 of the runner 11. Ther rollers14 and the washers 15 constitute virtually antifriction devices not onlysubserving the function of antifrictiony means intermediate the runnersand the runner supports but positively interlocking these parts togetherto prevent lateral separation of the same when once assembled. c As thetop sections 5 of the table are moved away from each other or separatedto insert leaves, the runners 6 move on the bearings 14 carried by therunner supports and the rim L is provided with slots 16 through whichthe runners pass, these slots effectivelyv guiding the movement of thetop sections in such a manner as to prevent likelihood of binding. Y

As in my previous applications, I employ means for connecting one topsection to the other so that their relative movements will be the same,the movement `of one section imparting simultaneous motion in anopposite direction to the other section. Describing this specifically, Iprovide a iieXible chain or cable which is connected at its ends to therrunners of each top section, said cable passing around a roller vbearingantifriction device 18 mounted at the end of the runner support 6 upon apin 19 which is ini serted laterally in the runner as most clearly shownin F ig. tV of the drawings. As shownr in F ig. 1,two ofthese cables areemployed at each side of the table, one passing around the pulley 1S, asbefore described, while the other is arranged to pass around in theopposite direction a second pulley at the opposite end of the runnersupport 6. 'Ihe ends of. the cables are secured to a plate 20, orsimilar member which is fastened by means of rivets or other means tothe runner 11 intermediate its length, one plate 2O being disposed nearthe free end of one of the runnersr 11 at one side of the runner support6 while a second plate 2O is similarly connected to theother opposingrunner 11. 'Ihese plates 20`are bulged centrally so as to permit the yrunner to pass the roller 18 as the top section is moved outwardly intoan extended position, this roller 1S necessarily projecting into theelongatedslots of the runners. The central portion of each plate 20 ispunched outwardly to form a connecting projection 20 invwhich projectionis pro-` vided an opening for the purpose of connection of the ycables17 It will be apparent that the plates 2O perform a dual function inthat they form the connecting means for the cables as well asl-supportor rigidly hold vthe intermediate portions of the runners 11 to whichthey are secured.

The table of `my invention is provided -with foldableleaves 21 normallydisposed beneath the top sections and between the runners 11, theseleaves being hinged cenltrally for this purpose.` y:Each leaf hasconnected thereto 'a `leaf operating or positionfr ing'niemlier 22 ofU-sh'ape form, said memtop section 5 in a similar direction-` The hingeportion of the foldable leaf is `then pressed downwardly andthe`operator grasps the free end of the leaf simultaneously pulling thisupper half towardhim as well as "moving the leaf on its connectingmember 22. The ektreniities of the leaf rest -upon the rim as shown indotted lines in F ig. 1, while the member 22 is limited in its pivotalmovement by the edge. 23 of the angle sup poit 23 as shown in F ig. 5.The top sections are thenv shoved together in the usual manner;

lt is desirable to provide locking means for the table a-nd'to this endI secure to the rim 4 at opposite ends of the table, the lock supportingbars 25 on which arepivotally mounted a locking lever 26. The lower' endof the lever isbent to forni a handle 27'while its upper extremity isbent laterally'inra vhorizontal plane to forma locking Vprojection 28and again bent from the vertical plane as shown in Fig. 9. Thisprojection 28 is also beveled on its rbottom edge so as to cooperatewith the beveled edge of a locking plate 29 which islsecured to the topsectionl To lock the table in anydesired position the lever or lockingmember` 2G is pushed upwardly and turned so as to engage the projection2S over this plate and by reason of the curvature of the projection 28the top section will be moved slightly inwardly a certain distance whichdistance is suflicient to enter the dowel pins in their respectiverecesses. The dowel pins and recesses are `not shown as they are of theusual construction and do not form apart of the present invention. p j jFrom the foregoing' it will be apparent that the several parts employedin my table construction are particularly adapted for assemblingpurposes and this greatly facilitates the manufacturing of the severalparts in an obvious manner.

In F ig. ll I have shown a slightly modified form of runner support,indicated by the numeral 30, which support is T-shaped in cross section.The bottom flanges 30a are provided with openings at convenient pointsthroughout the length of the support and screws or like fasteningmembers 3l are employed to secure the support to the cross pieces 2. Theparticular feature of this forni of runner support is that it preventslikelineet the runners each to tions of thetable.

hoodl of the supportyield'ing to lateral strains and an effectivefbraceis .thereby se-`r cured. As in the constructionhere-inbeforey describedthe support is provided with the cable A pulley 32 Varound wliichthecable 33 passes cooperating with the runners 34 car-y ried by the'4 topsections 5 in the manner vset forth. c y Y Y 4 From :the foregoing f' itwill be observed thatthe'eXtension'and equalizing unit coni- 1 prisingas it doesa runner support 6 and the slotted runners 11 at oppositesides thereof is virtuall'ya completemechanisin of itself owing tothefact that when its parts are assembled,theantifriction devices le, l5

form interlocking connections between the Y runners'and the saidsupport. Furthermore the ycablevor chain 17 connected as it is ywitheach ofthe runners ll'a'nd connected with the opposite endsv of thejrunner support 6 by passingaroundthepulleys 18 also forms amainconnection to positively hold the parts off-theunit together ready foroperative application' to a table.' In fact with the extensionandequali-zing unit 'complete the only thing that it is necessary to doin placing the saine on a table isto attach theopposite ends of thesupport 6 to the table at its" base or rim', and then fasten eachrunnerll to kthe top section with which it is to be connected, there being nonecessity whatever Vof effecting a connection of any of the parts of theunit.

, lVhat I claim and desire to secure by Letters Patent is: A

l; In combination witha table comprising a base and extensible topsections,extension and equalizing means comprising a runner supportmounted on said base, runners -disposed at opposite sides of saidsupport, a continuous equalizing connection mounted wholly upon saidrunner support and passing through said runners,anti-friction devicesdisposed in substantially the same' runner support in engagement withthe runners to facilitate the freedom of relative movement of saidparts, and means to conp one of the'top sec- 2. Als a new article ofmanufacture, a metallic attachment unit for extension tables forming a.complete extension slide and equalizing mechanism, the same cornprisingspaced metal runners eachV adapted to be attached to a sliding topsection of a table, a runner support disposed intermediate said runnerso that the latter,l operate in close relation thereto, pulleys joui`-Vnaled upon gthe runner support adjacent to the ends thereof, acontinuous equalizing cable connection passing around said pulleys,rollers mounted on opposite sides of tlie'runner support and operatingbeside said cable connection, and plates carried by the metalyrunnersand projecting laterallyA mounted thereon, extension and vequalizingmeans consisting of a runner support mounted upon the base, pulleys onopposite ends of said support, an equalizing cable passing-aroundsaidpulleys and operating longitudinally of the runner support, runnerseach of whichisk attached to an-adjacent top section of the table andmovable therewith, the runner support being disposed between saidrunners, anti# frictiondevices disposed at opposite sides of the runnersupport adjacent tofits ends,

yeach antifrictionA device operating in` engagement with'the runner onthe adjacent side of the runner support and establishing an interlockingconnection between the runner and said support whereby lateralseparation of said parts is prevented, and connections intermediate thesaid cable and the said runners, the said runners each comprising spacedupper and ,lower members into the space between which theanti-frictiondevices project and operate.

et. In combination with a table comprising a base, and extensible topsections mounted thereon, extension and equalizing means consisting of arunnersupport mounted upon the base, pulleys 0n opposite ends of saidsupport, an equalizing cable passing around said pulleys, runners eachof which is attached to an adjacent top section of the table and movabletherewith, the runner support being disposed between said runners,antifriction devices disposed at opposite sides of the runner supportadjacent to its ends, each antifriction device operating in engagementwith the runner on the adj acent side of the runner support andestablishing an interlocking connection between the runner and saidsupport whereby lat- Gopies of this patent may be obtained for eralseparation of said parts is'prevented,n

and connections intermediate the said cable and the said runners, thesaid runners each comprising spaced upper and lower members into j thespace` between which `the pulleys project andoperate, the connectionbetween the runners and the cable comprising plates forming b r'acingconnectors betweenthe upper and lower members of the runners, and .saidplates being bulged outwardly `at their body portions to` form aclearance space for the antitriction devices above mentioned.

5. As a new article of manufacture, an eX- tension and equalizing unitsusceptible of bodily attachment to an extension dining table andlcomprising a ruimer support, pulleys mounted at opposite ends of saidsupport, an equalizingcable passing around -said pulleys, runners atopposite sides of the runner support, each ruimer comprising spacedupper and lower members into the space -between which the adjacentpulleyk on the runner support projects and operates, eiid membersconnecting the upper and lower members of each ruimer together,antifriction devices at opposite sides of the runner support adjacent tothe end thereof yand constructed so as to establish interlockper andlower members of each runner to gether intermediate their ends Yandhaving means to connect said runner with the portion of the cableadjacent thereto.

In testimony whereof I aiiix my signature in presence of two witnesses.

' y GEORGE STEINGRUBER.

Witnesses A. H. CONN, H. F. B. HiGDoNs.

fivev cents each, by addressing' the Commissioner of Patents,Washington, D. C.

